PET scan musings

By nature, I think I am a pessimist. Not on all things, perhaps, but on many things I take the glass is half empty outlook. You don’t get as disappointed that way.

I am very excited and happy and even a little stunned that Dr. S declared me in remission. Admittedly, though, my excitement has been tempered by that new finding of “patchy areas” and “nodules” in my right lung. What is really bothering me is it is a “new” finding.

However, having done some research on the internet (always a dangerous activity, I know), I am beginning to become convinced that the “new” nodules and areas the radiologist considered “active inflammation” are the result of the “B” drug in the ABVD cocktail, bleomycin.

Bleo, as we affectionately call it, is known to cause lung toxcity. I haven’t been running in almost a week due to the pulled groin, but earlier in the week when I was running I was noticing some modest breathing difficulties. Plus, when I take a really deep breath I find I really can’t; I end up coughing instead.

So I think that the “new” finding may very well be a result of the “B” drug rather than the Hodge dying everywhere else but spreading into my lung. I have a pulmonary function test on Friday so maybe that will also shed some light.

For now, though, I think I am just going to try and focus on being in remission. Only nine more treatments left to go. If I stay on the schedule, I should have my last one on September 21, 2007. The road to heaven might lead back through hell …. But I think the heaven on the other side will be worth it.

Tags: ABVD, cancer, chemotherapy, hematology, Hodgkin's Disease, oncology, PET scan, radiology, remission